What type of hacker operates in a legal gray area?

A hacker that operates in a legal gray area is known as a Gray Hat hacker. This type of hacker engages in activities that may not always align with laws or ethical standards but typically does not have malicious intent. Gray Hat hackers may perform unauthorized actions such as probing systems for vulnerabilities without permission but do so with the intention of notifying the owner of these vulnerabilities. While their actions can lead to legal repercussions, their goal is to improve security, making them distinct from Black Hat hackers, who operate with malicious intent, and White Hat hackers, who operate entirely within legal and ethical boundaries with permission. This placement within a legal gray area makes Gray Hat hackers particularly nuanced in discussions of cybersecurity ethics.